Wire-feeding mechanism.



A. J. LEWIS.

WIRE FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 15, 1913.

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Lilia IIHHHHHHH q l no INVENTOR Kw. I BY A TTORIVEY A. J. LEWIS.

WIRE FEEDING MEGHA APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 13.

LQQKfifiQQ Patented. May 26,1914.

3 SHBBTSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES. l/VVE/VTUR a 0% %m J (1i 0/ 1/7235 BY A TTOR/VEV A. J. LEWIS.

WIRE FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15.1913.

Patented May 26, 19M.

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,4 TTOR/VEY TE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR l. LEWIS, 0F STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT,.ASSIGNOB TO THE BAIRD MACHINE- COMPANY, OFBRIDG-EPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF: GONNEGTICU'I.

WIRE'FEEDING MEGHANISM'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,,ARTHU1R J. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stratford, county of F airfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Wire-Feeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mechanism for I feeding wire and similar material and reference more particularly to feed ng mechanism employed in connection with machines for making wire chain, although, as will hereinafter appear, the invention is in no way limited in its utility't'o machines of this particular character.

The invention has for one object to provide mechanism whereby the feeding of the wire will be interrupted at predetermined intervals. When used, for example, in cbnnection with a chain making machine, the efle'ct of such interruption of the wire feeding mechanism will be to cause lengths of chain of a predetermined number of links each to be formed, the link forming mecha= nism operating idly during the interruption.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved and eflicient means for gripping and advancing the wire at each operation of the mechanism, which means will be especially adapted for use in connection with the interrupting mechanism above referred to.

With these and other objects in view I have devised the novel mechanism which I will now describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of wire feeding mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the controlling or interrupting mechanism shown in Fig. 1-. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 1, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5--5 Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of two forms of ratchet wheels used in connection with the controlling or interrupting mechanism. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 88, Fig. l.

12 denotes the frame of the machine, said frame affording the necessary supports, guides and bearings for the various parts hereinafter described.

13 denotes the main shaft of the machine which is journaled in the frame 12 and derives its motion from any suitable source of power (not shown). The shaft 13 is provided intermediate its ends with cams 14, 15, 16 and 17 fixed thereon, the function of each of which will presently be more fully explalned. At one end said shaft is provided with a beveled gear 18 meshing with a beveled gear 19 on a transverse shaft 20, alsojournaled in the frame 12.

21 denotes a longitudinally extending and preferably undercut or dove-tailed guideway supported by, or forming a part of, the frame 12. 22 denotes a slide mounted on said guideway for movement longitudinally thereof. Movement of the slide 22 on the guideway 21 may, if desired; be limited by stop bolts 23 held in an undercut groove 24;

in said vguideway. The slide 22 is reciprocated on the guideway 21 by means of a pitman 25 piyoted at one end on a bolt 26 carried by the slide and at its opposite end upon a crank pin 27 projecting from a crank disk 28 carried by the shaft 20. The upper face of the slide 22 is recessed as at 29 (see Fig. 8), said recess being partly covered by a plate 30'suitably secured to said upper face, as by screws.

31 denotes a fixed wire gripping jaw or block located in the recess 29 and bearing against an abutment screw 32.

33 denotes a movable wire gripping jaw or block guided for movement between the walls of the recess 29 and the cover plate 30. The jaw or block 33 is connected by a pintle 34 with a floating toggle link or block 35, which in turn is connected by a pintle 36 with a toggle lever 37 pivoted at 38 to the slide 22 having an extension therebeyond and carrying at its outer end a head or plate 39 suitably secured thereto, as by screws. When the pintles 3 1, 36 and 38 of the toggle block or link 35 and toggle lever 37 are in the same plane or on a dead center, the cover plate 30 is engaged by the toggle link or block 35 and forms a stop preventing further movement or breaking of the toggle in the upper direction. The toggle lever 37 is oscillated on its pivot 38 to move the block 33 to grip or release the wire by means of a lever 40 fulcrumed on a pin 41 held in suitable uprights of the frame 12. Ihe lever 40 engages at one end a suitable groove in the cam 17, whereby it is oscillated on its fulcrum, and carries at its opposite end bearing plates 42 and 43 engaging at opposite sides the plate or head 39. The plate 42 is rigidly secured to the lever 40, as by screws, while the plate 43 is slidably mounted in the end of the lever 40, being normally held in its outermost position, in which it engages the plate or head 39, by means of a spring 44. During the movement of the slide 22 toward the right, as shown in Fig. 1, the end of the lever '40 adjacent said. slide is depressed, causing the toggle 35, 37, to be straightened and the wire to be tightly gripped between the jaws 31 and 33 and to be fed forwardly or toward the right in Fig. 1. When the slide 22 reaches the limit of its movement toward the right, the cam 17 causes the lever 40 to be oscillated on its fulcrum to break the toggle, thereby releasing the wire and causing the clocks or jaws 31 and 33 to move idly thereover during the movement of the slide.- toward the left. The head or plate 39, is of' a sufiicient length to remain in engagement with the plates 42 and 43 throughout the movement of the slide 22.

45 denotes a clamp or holding device carried by a lever 46 suitably fulcrumed on the machine frame and carrying at its end a cam roller coiiperating with the cam 15. 47 denotes a cutter cotiperating witha fixed guide 48 and carried by a slide 49 operated by the cam 14. may be of any usual or well known form. The length of wire fed forward by the mechanism above described and cut off b the cutter 47 may be delivered to the link forming mechanism of a chain machine-but this mechanism is not shown herein- -as it forms no portion of the present invention, the particular purpose for which the wire is fed being immaterial to the present description.

50 denotes a releasing bell crank lever pivoted'at 51 to a casting 52 bolted to the machine frame. One arm of the lever 51 engages a pin 53 projecting upwardly from the plate 43 through an opening in the top of the lever 40 or in a plate secured thereto. Oscillation of the lever 50 on its pivot causes the plate 43 to be retracted against the tension of the spring 44 out of engagement with the plate or head 39. When said plate 43 is so retracted, oscillation of the lever 40 on its fulcrum will not effect the closing of the wire gripping jaws 31 and 33, so that when the slide 22 is moved toward the right, said jaws will move idly over the wire without feeding the same.'

54 denotes a ratchet wheel rotatably mounted on a stud 55 (see particularly Fig. 4) which is arranged to slide longitudinally in the casting 52, but which is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 4 by means of springs 56 mounted in sockets in said casting and engaging a flange 57 on said stud. The

The holding and cutting means stud 55 may be retracted against the tension of the springs 56 by means of a handle 58, thereby releasing the ratchet wheel 54 and permitting the same to be removed and changed at will.

59 denotes a washer on the stud 55, and 60 a segmental washer secured to the casting 52, said washers clamping the ratchet wheel 54 between them and holding the same against improper turning.

jections on the ratchet wheel 54 adapted when said ratchet wheel is turned to a predetermined position to engage a contact plate 75 secured to the lever 50 and oscillate said lever on its pivot, thereby withdrawing the contact plate 43 and rendering the wire feed inoperative, as above explained.

62 denotes a pawl arm having a preferably integral stud or hub 63 j ourn'aled in the end of the casting 52, said arm carrying a pawl 64 adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet 54 and rotate the same when said arm is oscillated. The arm 62 is moved in one direction by a spring 65 (see Fig. 3) secured at one end to said arm and at the opposite end to a pin 66 projecting from the frame 12. Said arm 62 is moved in the opposite direction by a connecting rod 67 having one end pivoted at 68 to the arm 62 and having its opposite end forked or bifurcated to embrace the shaft 13, whereby said connecting rod is guided on said shaft.

69 denotes a cam roller carried by the connecting rod 67 and coiiperating with the cam 16, whereby said rod is actuated to move the arm 62.

70 denotes an adjustable stop screw carried by a lug 71 projecting from the casting 52, said stop screw being engaged by the arm 62 to limit the movement thereof under the influence of the spring 65.

The complete operation of the machine is as follows: At each rotation of the main shaft 13 .the slide 22 is reciprocated to feed forward a length of wire, as above eX- plained. Also at each rotation of the shaft 13 the arm 62 is oscillated to turn the ratchet wheel 54 through the space of one or more teeth. After a predetermined number of operations, the cam projection 61 is brought into engagement with the contact plate 75, thereby oscillating the lever 50 upon its pivot.. This causes the contact plate 43 to be retracted out of engagement with the plate or head 39, so that at the next forward movement of the slide 22 the gripping jaws 31 and 33 will not grip the wire and this movement of the slide will be an idle one. During this idle movement of the slide 22, however, the arm 62 is again actuated to advance the ratchet wheel 54, thereby moving the cam projection 61 out of engagement with the contact plate 75 and permitting the spring 44 to return the plate 75 61 denotes one or more lateral cam pronoeneaa 43 to its normal position, so that at the next forward movement of the slide 22 the wire will be again fed.

It will be seen that the number of eflective operations performed by the machine between interruptions will depend upon the number of steps which the ratchet wheel 54 is advanced before a cam projection 61 is brought into engagement with the contact plate 75. In order that this number may conveniently be varied, the ratchet wheel 54 is made readily removable, as above ex plained, and the adjustabl stop screw is provided. The variation in question may be accomplished in a number of ways. For example, the ratchet wheel shown in Fig. 3 is of the form shown in detail in Fig. 6 and has one cam projection 61. If this ratchet wheel be removed and the one shown in Fig. 7, having two cam projections 61, be substituted, it will be seen that the number of efi'ective operations of the machine between interruptions will be decreased onehalf. If a ratchet wheel having a greater or less number of teeth be substituted, the number of operations will be correspondingly increased or diminished. Inasmuch as thestroke of the arm 62 depends upon the adjustment of the screw 7 0, this screw is adjusted to govern the stroke of the lever in accordance with the length of the teeth on the particular ratchet wheel used. It will be seen, however, that where a ratchet wheel having relatively short teeth is employed, the screw 70 may be so adjusted as to cause the arm 62 to advance said ratchet wheel through the space of one, two, or more teeth at each operation, as may be desired.

7 2 denotes a knob mounted to turn on the upper side of the lever 40 and having a pin 73 (see Fig. 1) engaging a notch 74 in the plate 43. By turning the knob 7 2 the plate 43 may be manually retracted and the wire feeding mechanism rendered inoperative.

Certain features of the interrupting mechanism shown herein are substantially the same as corresponding features in a similar mechanism disclosed .and claimed in an application for Letters Patent, filed by me on March 15th, 1913, Serial Number 754,600. Such common subject matter is not claimed herein, being covered by the claims of said co-pending application.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a reciprocating slide, a fixed gripping jaw thereon, a movable gripping jaw thereon, a floating toggle link pivotally connected to said movable jaw, a toggle lever pivoted upon the slide and pivotally connected to the floating link, and a member for engaging and operating said toggle lever.

2. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a reciprocating slide having a recess, fixed and movable gripping blocks located therein, a toggle block mounted therein pivotally connected to said movable gripping block, a toggle lever 70 pivoted upon the slide and pivotally connected to the said toggle block, a cover over said recess guiding said movable gripping block and engaged by said toggle bloick whe the toggle is in dead center, and means for engaging and operating said toggle lever.

3. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a reciprocating slide having a recess, fixed and movable gripping blocks located in said recess, a toggle link in said recess pivotally connected with said movable block, a toggle lever pivotally connected with said slide and with said toggle link, a cover over said recess forming a stop for said toggle link, and a member for engaging and operating said toggle lever".

4. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a reciprocating slide, gripping jaws on said slide, a toggle pivoted at one end to the gripping jaws and at the other end to the slide and having an extension therebeyond, a lever for operating said toggle, acam for aetuating said lever, and means upon the extension of the toggle for slidably engaging the lever in all positions of the slide.

5. ln a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame, a slide mounted to reciprocate on said frame, gripping jaws on said slide, a toggle on said slide for operating said jaws pivoted at one end to the slide and having an extension beyond that pivotal point and the slide, an operatin member on said frame, and means on sald toggle extension engaging said operating member in all positions of the slide.

6. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame, a slide mounted to reciprocate on said frame, griping jaws on said slide, means on said slide for operating said jaws, an operating member on said frame, and an elongated plate carried by said operating means and engaging said operating member in all positions of said slide.

7. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame, a slide mounted to reciprocate on said frame, gripping jaws on said slide, an operating member on said frame, a pair of bearing plates on said operating member, and means on said slide operatively connected with said jaws and engaging said bearing plates in all positions of said slidel 8. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame, a slide mounted to reciprocate on said frame, gripping jaws on said slide, means on said slide for operating said jaws, an'operating member on said rame, a pair of bearing plates on said operating member, and an elongated plate. carried by said operating means and engaging said bearing plates in all positions of said slide.

9. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame; a slide mounted to reciprocate on said frame, gripping jaws on said slide, a toggle link pivotally connected with one of said jaws, a

- toggle lever pivotally connected with said slide, and automatic means for periodically interrupting the normal closing operation of the jaws.

'11. In a mechanism for feeding wire and "the like, in combination, a slide, gripping jaws upon said slide, means'for reciprocating said slide, an operating member, means for operatively connecting said member and jaws to close said jaws during movement in one direction of. the slide, and automatic means for periodically disconnecting said member and jaws during the normal closing operation of said jaws.

12. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a slide, gripping jaws on said slide, means for reciprocating said slide, a pivoted operating lever, means for operatively connecting said lever and jaws to close the jaws during movement in .one direction of the slide, and automatic means 'for periodically disconnecting said lever and jaws during the normal closing operation of the jaws. C

13. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a slide, gripping jaws on said slide, means for reciprocating said slide, a toggle on said slidefor openjaws during the normal closing operation of said jaws.

15. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a slide, gripping jaws on said slide, means for reciprocating said slide, an operating lever, means for operatively connecting said lever and jaws'ineluding a sliding bearing plate on said lever, a spring for normally holding said bearing plate in operative position, and automatic means for periodically moving said plate to disconnect said lever and jaws.

16. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a slide, gripping jaws on said slide, means for reciprocating said slide, an operating lever, means for operatively connecting said lever and jaws including a movable engaging member on said lever, a pin projecting from said engaging member, and automatic means engaging said pin for periodically moving said engaging member to disconnect said lever and jaws.

17. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a slide, gripping jawson said slide, means for reciprocating said slide, an operating lever, means for operatively connecting said lever and jaws including a movable engaging member on said lever, a releasing lever for engaging and moving said engaging member to. disconnect said operating lever and jaws, and automatic means for periodically operating said releasing lever.

18. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a slide, gripping jaws on said slide, means for reciprocating said slide, an operating lever, means for operatively connecting said lever and j aws including a sliding bearing plate on said lever, a spring for normally holding said bearing plate in operative position, a pin projecting from said bearing plate, a releasing lever engaging said pin for moving said bearing plate to disconnectsaid operating lever and jaws, and automatic means for periodically operating said releasing lever the like, in combination, a slide, gripping jaws on said slide, means for reciprocating said slide, means for operating said jaws, a pivoted operating lever, means. for operatively connecting said lever and said jawoperating means including a movable engaging member 011 said lever normally engaging said j aw-operating means during the reciprocation of the slide,,and manually operative means for moving said engaging member to disconnect said lever and said jaw-operating means.

i 20. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a slide, gripping jaws on said slide, means for reciprocating said slide, means for operating said jaws, a pivoted operating lever, means for opera- 110 19. In a mechanism for feeding wire and neeaeae tively connecting said lever and aw-operating means including a sliding bearing plate on said lever normally engaging said awoperating means during the reciprocation of the slide, said bearing plate having a notch, and a manually operative device on said lever having a pin engaging said notch for moving said plate to disconnect said lever and j aw-operating means.

21. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame, a shaft journaled in said frame, a slide guided on said frame, means for reciprocating said slide, gripping jaws on said slide, means actuated by the shaft for opening and closing said jaws, and automatic means operated by said shaft for periodically interrupting the operation of said jaw-operating means during the normal closing movement thereof.

22. in a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame, a shaft journaled-in said frame, a slide guided on said frame, means for reciprocating said slide, gripping jaws on said slide, means for operating said jaws, a cam on said shaft for actuating said operating means, means for periodically interrupting the operation of said jaws, and a second cam on said shaft for actuating said interrupting means.

23. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, an intermittently and progressively operated member, and means controlled by said member after a predetermined number of operations thereof for controlling said feeding means.

24:- ln a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, an intermittently and progressively operated member, and means controlled by 7 said member for periodically interrupting the operation of sald feeding means.

25. lln a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a ratchet wheel, a pawl for operating said ratchet wheel, means for operating said pawl, and means controlled by sai ratchet wheel for controlling said feeding means.

26. In .a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a ratchet wheel, a pawl for operating said ratchet wheel, an arm on which said pawl is mounted, a shaft, means on said shaft for actuating said operating mechanism, a cam on said shaft, a c0nnecting rod pivoted tosaid arm and having a forked end embracing said shaft, a cam roller on said connecting rod cooperating with said cam, and means controlled by said ratchet wheel for controlling said feeding mechanism.

27. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame, a shaft journaled in said frame, a slide guided on. said frame, means for reciprocating said slide, gripping jaws on said slide, means for operating said jaws, a cam on said shaft for actuating said operating means, a ratchet wheel, a pawl for operating, said ratchet wheel, an arm on which said pawl is mounted, a connecting rod pivoted to said arm and having a forked end embracing said shaft, a second cam on said shaft, a cam roller on said connecting rod coiiperating with said lastnamed cam, and means controlled by said ratchet wheel for periodically interrupting the operation of said jaws.

28. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a ratchet wheel, a pawl for operating said ratchet wheel, means for operating said pawl, means for adjusting the stroke of said pawl, and means cont-rolled by said ratchet wheel for controlling said feeding means.

29. lln a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a ratchet wheel, a pawl for operating said ratchet wheel, an arm on which said pawl is mounted, means for positively moving said arm in one direction, a spring for moving said arm in the opposite direction, an ad justing screw for limit-ing the movement of said arm under the influence of said spring, and means controlled by said ratchet wheel for controlling said feeding means.

80. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a ratchet wheel, a pawl for operating sa d ratchet wheel, means for operating said pawl, means controlled by said ratchet wheel for controlling said feeding means, and means for frictionally holding said ratchet wheel against rotation.

31. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a ratchet wheel, a pawl for operating said ratchet wheel, means for operating said pawl, means controlled by said ratchet wheel for controlling said feeding means, a lever for controlling said feeding means, and means on said ratchet wheel fonengaging and operating said lever.

32. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a ratchet wheel having a lateral cam projection, a pawl for operating said ratchet wheel, means for operating sald pawl, and k a lever engaged and operated by said cam projection for controlling said feeding means.

33. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a slide, gripping jaws, on said slide, means for reciprocating said slide, an operating lever, means for 013-,

pawl for operating said ratchet wheel, and a means for operating said pawl. I

34:. In a mechanism for'feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a ratchet wheel, a pawl for operating said ratchet Wheel, means controlled by said ratchet wheel for controlling said feeding means, means for detachably mounting said ratchet wheel in said frame, and means for operating said pawl.

35. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a ratchet wheel, a pawl for operating said ratchet wheel, means controlled by said ratchet wheel for controlling said feeding means, means for detachably mounting said ratchet wheel in said frame, means for operating said pawl, and means for adjusting the stroke of said pawl.

36. In a mechanism for feeding wire and the like, in combination, a frame, feeding means, mechanism for operating said feeding means, a ratchet wheel, a spring-pressed stud mounted in said frame upon which said ratchet wheel is mounted, a pawl for operating said ratchet wheel, means for operating said pawl, and means controlled by said ratchet wheel for controlling said feeding means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR J. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

WALTER B. CAIN, E. H. BLATOHLEY.. 

